Author's Note: Hello again, my friends!

I have posted the story so far on my LiveJournal, where my handle is the same. Now is the time to go make sure you can view it if you are going to want to read the entire adult story. Note this does not imply they will be getting busy soon. It might take them awhile, and I'm NOT going to give away THAT spoiler! For sex and the reveal, you just have to wait! I was just too tired to think, and it was something brainless I could do to avoid studying.

It's also where the adult snuggie story will appear eventually. Go friend me so I don't feel so lonely and obscene for putting these shocking words on my computer next to pledges of professionalism and Hippocratic oaths.

I will tell you when the chapters start being different. This one is as steamy as this story here is going to get.

Thanks to Marla, the best beta. She didn't beta it all, cuz I changed some stuff tonight, so if you find a mistake it's not her fault. Pam helped me out with some Catholic references, cause religion is important to my Victoria and I'm not Catholic. Jennifer, LaCorelli, Katie, Pam, Diana, Klingon, all my reviewers…oh so many helped with my confidence. Thank you so much.

Do you want the rest of the kiss? Ok, here you go. Picked up at the end of the last chapter just to make it smoother.

zzz

Victoria shook out his jacket and pushed her hair out of her face when she reached the large porch, leaning against the wall to catch her breath. She stared at his wet jacket, saw Diego soaked to the bone, watched lightning rip open the sky again. This was her fault, God's way of saying she'd gone against the church by kissing a man not her husband.

She sniffed back tears, telling herself Diego was a good man. He might not kiss her the same day she'd kissed a stranger, but he wouldn't demand an annulment. He loved her. He said he did, didn't he?

She met his eyes again, but Diego stepped into her and took her mouth before she could utter another apology.

Diego was a good man, but she'd been right to think about hidden passions. He didn't hesitate, his tongue stealing the apology from her breath as he pressed his tongue against hers. She gasped, wondering how mild Diego could kiss her like this, could excite her more than her outlaw did in the space of one breath. His tongue caressed hers, coaxed her to sink into the kiss, and all thoughts of Zorro vanished from her mind.

Diego wrapped his arms around her, pulling her body against him as he pressed her against the stone wall. The hint of rain made her thirsty for more, her fingers brushing up his wet cheek to thread into his hair. Her shirt had been mostly dry because he'd covered her, but now the water from his shirt soaked through her clothes. Rather than make her chilled, his body heated her as no fire ever had. One of his hands caressed up her side and she gasped when his fingers paused near her breasts, but they continued up to caress her neck.

Jealousy over his alter ego reared its head as Diego's thumb stroked the soft skin of her jaw. "You're my wife now. I'm your husband. I don't care what anyone says. I don't care if you had someone else in mind this morning. No other man will come even close to you, do you understand?"

Victoria was about to say she didn't understand, her brain trying to figure out why his words rang so familiar, but he kissed her again. She couldn't think with him standing so close, yet her arms wrapped around his shoulders to pull him closer. A gust of wind blew some rain against them, but neither noticed. The wall was cold at her back, her toes chilled from the rain, but she was burning up. And she'd thought kissing Diego would be like kissing a brother?

She'd never been so conscious of her own body, or someone else's. Her breasts were pressed against the hard wall of his chest, she could feel his heartbeat, hear his gasp when her fingers clenched in his hair. His hands smoothed down her sides to hold her hips and she broke away from the kiss to call out his name, overwhelmed by sensation at the same time feeling a strange hunger settle low in her stomach.

Diego heard footsteps and reminded himself they were in public. The beach was relatively private, but his friends had other guests. This was not the way to be patient. He glanced over to see Luis and Rebecca rounding the corner of the porch and heading toward the door, and said a short prayer when Luis looked like he was going to say something funny. Rebecca met Diego's eyes, shook her head slightly and grabbed her husband's collar to drag him inside. One more he owed Rebecca, and from the disapproving look he just got, she'd collect.

Diego forced his hands back to Victoria's waist, then lifted one to stroke her flushed cheek as she finally opened her eyes. "That wasn't so scary, was it?"

Victoria's eyes widened as she looked at Diego, her heart still pounding in her ears. Not scary? A kiss wasn't supposed to make you lose all control, lose any sense of reason. She'd enjoyed kissing… at least she thought she had…..right now she couldn't quite remember who she'd kissed before. Now she was terrified she would be addicted to this man who was standing so close no one looking could tell where he stopped and she started.

Looking—she panicked and glanced toward the street, but no one was there. She and Diego were married, they were allowed to kiss. Sharing responsibility, supporting each other, loving each other…but no one ever said how quickly you could grow absolutely dependent on another person. And he said that wasn't scary?

Diego moved away slightly at the panic in her eyes, but left his arms around her waist. "I didn't mean to scare you."

"You didn't…" Victoria flushed deeper. "Maybe a little. I liked kissing you."

Diego hugged her tighter, his mouth covering hers as soon as the words were out of her mouth. Her tongue joined him faster this time, and Diego groaned at the thought of a lifetime spent kissing her…and doing other things. "Good," Diego whispered against her lips. "Because I plan on kissing you often," Diego whispered against her ear. He kissed her there, then trailed his lips down her neck to kiss her shoulder, moving her shawl out of his way without asking.

Her nails dug into his arms when his hands slid up her sides and he so obviously stared at her breasts. They tingled more now even when they weren't touching him, because his hands were so close and his eyes were so intent. Was he going to touch her? Did she want him to? The wind gusted again, and a table fell on its side and rolled toward them. Victoria jumped at the noise, but Diego cradled her face and took her mouth again.

He loved her taste, loved it when she made that sound when he sucked at her bottom lip. She didn't seem frightened now. The sun was down, no one was around. He wanted to see what other sounds she would make. He felt her fingers clench in his shirt as he stepped close again, but it wasn't close enough. Her skin felt so soft, but once again it wasn't enough. It would never be enough. His arms wrapped tightly around her again, his tongue caressing hers as he thought of other places he'd like to kiss.

She called out his name—Diego, not Zorro. Victoria was his wife, finally. He could kiss her, touch her. His fingers clenched on her waist before traveling lower. He was her husband, he wasn't sneaking around stealing kisses in secret. The wall behind her was also much more sturdy than the pantry from this morning…

She gasped for breath and pushed against his chest, and Diego tried to focus again. Her eyes were wide, and he couldn't help grinning at her swollen lips. His tongue licked over his lips and he savored her taste, knowing he was breathing just as hard, was just as overwhelmed. Maybe a little less overwhelmed, he thought as he brought a hand up to stroke her flushed cheek. He swallowed his disappointment. He'd said he would give her time. He tried to lighten the mood.

"You can kiss me any time you want." Diego's eyes fell to her hands where they clenched in his shirt. "Or touch me." She immediately lifted her hands, but Diego covered them where they were. "Querida, we're husband and wife. You went to confession this morning. Nothing that happened before matters. Nothing we do will be shameful or embarrassing."

Her fingers moved only slightly where they were splayed against his shirt, which was wet from the rain but warmed by his body. "You're not mad?"

Diego shook his head. Maybe she'd remember this and not be mad when he finally told her. Maybe when they returned to Los Angeles. Zorro had no place on this vacation. Diego and Victoria, starting their life together. When they returned to real life, he'd show her the cave, let her ask all the questions she wanted. Now was not the time for talking. "I'm not mad. I'm thrilled. Today is the happiest day of my life."

She leaned her head back on the wall as she looked at him, wondering how honest you were supposed to be with your new husband. She grinned, picturing Alicia's response to Victoria turning chicken instead of talking with her best friend. "It's just a little overwhelming. I didn't know…"

Diego wrapped his arms back around her, lonely now without feeling her body against him. He couldn't help but grin when her breath caught in her chest again.

Victoria swallowed and forced herself to continue when she saw he was waiting for her to finish. "I don't like the idea of losing control. It's difficult for me."

Diego pressed his lips to her forehead, then because he could, pressed his lips gently against hers. "I'll be here if you lose control. No matter what happens, I'll be here for you. You will be there for me. It's ok to let someone else have the control for a little while." Victoria covered his hand where he cradled her cheek, frightened at how comfortable she was becoming.

Diego stepped back, but took both her hands in his. "Did you eat enough?"

Victoria blushed. She'd never had someone worry about her before. "Yes."

"Your room is ready if you're tired. If you're cold you could have a hot bath." Diego shrugged one shoulder. "Or we both could share one…" he mumbled. Diego dropped his eyes when hers grew round. "Or we could sit and talk. Or we could read, or play some games with Luis and Rebecca."

Victoria tried to catch her breath at the vision of her and Diego sharing a bath. Did people do that? It scared her that the idea excited her, so she shut her eyes tightly to push the thought from her mind. She was afraid, not excited. She wasn't supposed to be excited at the idea of… Victoria shook her head.

"I like Rebecca. Thank you for bringing me here."

Diego smiled, a little disappointed, but he could tell he'd sparked her interest. She wasn't running. "Luis is a troublemaker. Not quite sure how he stole Rebecca away, but they are great friends. I wanted to show you that friendship is a solid foundation for marriage. I'm sure you hear a lot of bad things in the tavern. Not everyone is like the people of Los Angeles. Our marriage will be different."

Victoria smiled and smoothed his hair since she'd messed it up. "Will you read to me?"

Diego grinned, and Victoria knew she'd picked the right choice. She liked pleasing him. She realized he made her happy as they entered the house.

"I'll show you your room," Diego said as he led her upstairs. "You can put on something dry. We'll go shopping in the morning."

Diego opened the door, but stayed in the hall when she entered the room. He saw her hesitate, but she relaxed when she realized he wasn't following her. "I didn't think to unpack your things. Make yourself comfortable. I'll be downstairs."

Victoria walked to the bed, picked up the flower. She turned to him and watched while he placed her slippers just inside the door before beginning to pull it closed. "Diego… thank you."

Diego paused in pulling the door closed. "Nothing to thank me for. I love you."

The door clicked gently after he left, and Victoria wondered if she'd ever get used to the words. She smelled the fragrant petals as she stroked her lips with the flower. Diego had said he planned on kissing her often. She glanced at the bed. His kisses made her curious.

She'd seen men without their shirts before. Downstairs on the porch, her fingers had wanted to remove Diego's shirt. She wanted to see him. That wasn't shameful, Diego said, because they were married. Some men scared her. Many women seemed afraid of their husbands. Diego was different. She opened her bag and pulled out a dry dress. She set it aside and lifted the white lace nightgown she'd also packed. It was the only thing in her luggage—the only thing she owned—that she'd never worn before.

Would she wear it tonight? She gently spread the gown on the bed. Diego had slept in this room, in this bed. She glanced around, but didn't see his bags. He'd been up here, she knew. He really wasn't going to pressure her. She walked over to the window to look out, the stars showing her crashing waves and seagulls dodging raindrops. It was a different world, but Diego made her feel safe, comfortable. The wind gusted again and she jumped back at the spray. She pulled the shutters closed and faced the room again.

The white gown seemed to glow against the bedding, and she rushed to stuff it back in her bag. This morning she'd enjoyed another man's kisses. Hoped that Zorro would agree to marry her. Now she was here with another man, who was already stirring exciting new feelings. What did that say about her? What kind of woman acted like this? She changed her clothes carefully, trying not to be so aware of her skin. When she was put together again, she glanced around the room.

Why was she suddenly lonely? Her hand froze on the doorknob before she left the room, then she turned and sank into a chair. She wasn't a weak woman who needed a man. She was a good woman. She had a duty as Diego's wife, but she wasn't supposed to be thinking these thoughts. She wanted children, she didn't want these feelings. She glanced over at the bed. She wished Alicia was here.

She smiled at the lily on her pillow. She'd spent nearly the full day with Diego. It was nice having someone to call her own. Alicia sometimes blushed if she was late to work. Alicia wasn't a bad woman, even if she did like to tease Victoria. Victoria glanced down at the ring on her finger. Diego was a good man, too, but a man was supposed to have these feelings.

But maybe he was right? Diego said it wasn't wrong. That she confessed and everything that happened before was forgiven. She stood and looked out the window, then glanced at the door. Was he missing her now? She rushed out of the room, curious about what the night would bring.

Zzz

Author's Note 2: Once again posting to try to cheer myself up, and to hopefully cheer you up as well. I hope you enjoyed our favorite couple getting closer together. Hope no one gives up on the story while our hero works out some issues. I have some plans for their characters, so feel free to shout out your comments and get mad, but I will try to still keep you entertained. It will have a happy ending! Don't forget LiveJournal :)

If you enjoyed, please review.